Truly modular building datacenter facility

ABSTRACT

A modular datacenter facility is constructed with a set of building modules of different types of functionality to form an entire datacenter facility having a standardized pre-approved architectural design and layout. All instances of a particular type of building module will have approximately a same floor plan and architectural design. An initial set of building modules can be built upon a parcel of land, and then as needs of space and additional capacity of the modular datacenter facility increase, then at a future point in time additional building modules of the different types can be rapidly added to the initial set of building modules. The building modules of the different types use one or more connecting corridors architected into at least a first type of building module and corresponding aligned doorways between both building modules to interconnect two building modules adjacent and abutted to each other.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/609,812, filed Mar. 12, 2012,entitled “A Truly Modular Building Datacenter Facility,” which is alsoincorporated herein by reference.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the interconnect asit appears in the Patent and Trademark Office Patent file or records,but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

In general, an embodiment relates to building a datacenter facility.Information Technology operations are a crucial aspect of mostorganizational operations in the western world. One of the main concernsis business continuity. Companies rely on their information systems torun their operations. If a system becomes unavailable, companyoperations may be impaired or stopped completely. It is necessary toprovide a reliable infrastructure for IT operations, in order tominimize any chance of disruption. Information security is also aconcern, and for this reason a data center has to offer a secureenvironment, which minimizes the chances of a security breach. A datacenter must therefore keep high standards for assuring the integrity andfunctionality of its hosted computer environment. Telcordia GR-3160,NEBS Requirements for Telecommunications Data Center Equipment andSpaces, provides guidelines for data center spaces withintelecommunications networks, and environmental requirements for theequipment intended for installation in those spaces.

Most conventional thinking is that the only way to build a datacenterfacility on a cost-effective basis is to do so at scale. The commonthesis is that the only way to get amount of dollars need per squarefoot low enough is to have scale-buying power (building 100,000 squarefeet and up). Additionally, from a modular perspective, the currentindustry thought process is to build the data hall as well as themechanical/electrical plant on a shipping containerized basis.

SUMMARY

Various methods and apparatuses are described for a modular datacenterfacility constructed with a set of building modules of different typesof functionality to form/make up an entire datacenter facility having astandardized pre-approved architectural design and layout. Each type ofbuilding module in the set has a specific collection of functionalityassociated with that type of building module. Each building module ofthe different types is a pre-engineered, standardized building blockcontaining architectural features to allow easy configuration andintegration with the other building modules that form the modulardatacenter facility. All instances of a particular building module withthat type of functionality will have approximately a same floor plan andarchitectural design. The modular datacenter facility houses computingsystems. The computing systems includes servers and storage deviceshoused in hot and cool zones, routers and switches that transport datatraffic between the servers as well as transport traffic to a worldexterior to the modular data center facility. An initial set of buildingmodules can be built upon a parcel of land, and then as the number ofcustomers needing a datacenter functionality increase or the needs ofcurrent customer's space and additional capacity of the modulardatacenter facility increases, then at a later/future point in timeadditional building modules of the different types can be rapidlyadjoined/added to the initial set of building modules; and thus, a datacenter facility transformation takes a step-by-step approach carried outover time through an addition of more building modules added to existingbuilding modules. This rapid addition of building modules to theexisting modules allows for a truly modular built data center. Thebuilding modules of the different types use one or more connectingcorridors architected into at least a first type of building module andcorresponding aligned doorways between both building modules tointerconnect two building modules adjacent and abutted to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The multiple drawings refer to the example embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an initialmodular datacenter facility constructed with a set of building modulesof different types of functionality to form an entire datacenterfacility having a standardized pre-approved architectural design andlayout.

FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the connectingcorridor in the hardened-structure building module wrapping around adata floor containing the servers and storage devices housed in hot andcool zones in the data-floor building module.

FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of theoffice-support building module with a fishbowl security center thatlooks over the both the lobby man-trap area and the loading dock, and ahardened-structure building module that has a dedicated customer storageand staging space as well as connecting corridors.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the power-centerbuilding module and the office-support building module having thealigned doors fabricated into the building module in order tointerconnect with the connecting corridor.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a physicalcomposition and geographic arrangement of building modules matched to acurrent capacity and space needs of a user of the modular datacenterfacility as well as to a geography of the parcel of land that themodular data center facility will be located on.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an expansion ofan initial set of building modules built upon a parcel of land, and thenat a future point in time, additional building modules of the differenttypes are added to the initial set of building modules over time.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the data-floorbuilding module with partitioned floor space into private suites forportions of the computing systems via erection of non-weight bearingwalls from floor to ceiling to separate each private suite within thesingle data-floor building module.

While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternativeforms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example inthe drawings and will herein be described in detail. The inventionshould be understood to not be limited to the particular formsdisclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth,such as examples of specific heights and dimensions, named components,connections, types of offices, etc., in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, toone skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well knowncomponents or methods have not been described in detail but rather in ablock diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presentinvention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary.The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to bewithin the spirit and scope of the present invention. Example processesfor and apparatuses to provide a truly modular building datacenterfacility are described. The following drawings and text describe variousexample implementations of the design.

A modular datacenter facility may be constructed with a set of buildingmodules of different types of functionality to form an entire datacenterfacility having a standardized pre-approved architectural design andlayout. All instances of a particular type of building module will haveapproximately a same floor plan and architectural design. An initial setof building modules can be built upon a parcel of land, and then asneeds of space and additional capacity of the modular datacenterfacility increase, then at a future point in time additional buildingmodules of the different types can be rapidly added to the initial setof building modules. The building modules of the different types use oneor more connecting corridors architected into at least a first type ofbuilding module and corresponding aligned doorways between both buildingmodules to interconnect two building modules adjacent and abutted toeach other.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an initialmodular datacenter facility constructed with a set of building modulesof different types of functionality to form an entire datacenterfacility having a standardized pre-approved architectural design andlayout.

The modular datacenter facility is constructed with a set of buildingmodules of different types of functionality to form/make up an entiredatacenter facility having a standardized pre-approved architecturaldesign and layout. Each type of building module in the set has aspecific collection of functionality associated with that type ofbuilding module. Each type of building module, such as ahardened-structure building module 106, a data-floor building module104, a power-center building module 108, and an office-support buildingmodule 102, has a specific set of functionality associated with thatbuilding module. Each building module of the different types is apre-engineered, standardized building block containing architecturalfeatures to allow easy configuration and integration with the otherbuilding modules that form the modular datacenter facility. Allinstances of a particular building module with that type offunctionality will have approximately a same floor plan andarchitectural design. Small changes can be made to the interior of agiven building modules design but in general, the floor plan andarchitectural design remain the same. Components making up each of thebuilding modules 102-108 are prefabricated and shipped to the parcel ofland.

The modular datacenter facility houses computing systems in a data-floorbuilding module 104. The computing systems includes servers and storagedevices housed in hot and cool zones, routers and switches thattransport data traffic between the servers as well as transport trafficto a world exterior to the modular data center facility. The modulardatacenter facility also includes redundant or backup power supplies,redundant data communications connections, environmental coolingcontrols, and security devices. An initial set of building modules canbe built upon a parcel of land, and then as the number of customersneeding a datacenter functionality increase or the needs of currentcustomer's space and additional capacity of the modular datacenterfacility increases, then at a later/future point in time additionalbuilding modules of the different types can be rapidly adjoined/added tothe initial set of building modules; and thus, a data center facilitytransformation takes a step-by-step approach carried out over timethrough an addition of more building modules added to existing buildingmodules. This rapid addition of building modules to the existing modulesallows for a truly modular built data center. The building modules ofthe different types 102-108 use one or more connecting corridorsarchitected into at least a first type of building module andcorresponding aligned doorways between both building modules tointerconnect two building modules adjacent and abutted to each other.

Initially all four types of building modules 102-108 will be built ontoa given geographic plot of land. At a later/future point in time,expansion can occur and building module types can be added to support anew customer on the same existing parcel of land or expand for a currentcustomer. In general, the new expansion can then choose to try to shareone or more of the previously fabricated and installed building moduletypes 102-108 or build its own instance of that building module type.The minimum land requirement depends on the set back required by thecustomer. The Truly modular datacenter design has an optionaloffice-support building module 102 for future builds that is required onthe first datacenter constructed, but not on the future adjacentdatacenters. The initial datacenter built in a parcel of land willinclude the set of four building modules of different types offunctionality: the data-floor building module 104; thehardened-structure building module 106; the office-support buildingmodule 102; and the power center building module 108.

The data-floor building module 104 is the principal module of thedatacenter as it provides the hardened environment for the computingsystems that includes the server room. The data-floor building module104 is approximately 10,000 square feet and works in unison with thepower-center building module 108 to provide one MW of UPS power at a 2Nredundancy. This power center building module 108 is pre-fabricated offsite and it includes everything in the design electrical system. Eachpower-center building module 108 includes Switchgear, a UninterruptablePower Supply, Power Controls, is associated with a data-floor buildingmodule 104. The data-floor building module 104 structure also supportsthe N+1 mechanical system that features airside economization anddelivers high-efficiency cooling via 2 air chases a long the walls ofthe data-floor building module, the main datacenter, and a 36-inchraised floor system.

The hardened-structure building module 106 houses the building integritystructure of the truly modular datacenter. The hardened-structurebuilding module 106 includes the hardened shell of the building, adedicated customer storage and staging space, primary Telco room,personnel corridor, service corridor, Primary POP Room, various officespace, site storage, fire riser, etc. The connecting corridors in theform of one or more personnel or service corridors are laid out betweenan interior wall of the hardened-structure building module 106 and anexterior wall forming the hardened shell of the hardened-structurebuilding module 106. Each wall section forming the hardened shell of thebuilding module has reinforced framework to meet Miami-Dade Countystandards to withstand up to 150 mph winds and a 1.5 seismic importancefactor. The wall sections forming the hardened shell are connected to afoundation/hardened environment.

The office-support building module 102 includes a security office,loading dock, break room, dedicated office space, lobby, janitorial,restrooms, among other support spaces and amenities that support anydatacenter use. The office-support building module 102 type is the mostcommonly shared building module type between different customers.

These four building modules make up the Truly modular datacenterfacility and it is approximately 20,680 square feet. The Truly ModularDatacenter consists of the above four (4) modules connected together,working in unison. This module synergy provides a unique facility layoutthat results in a highly efficient datacenter.

Note: The office-support building module 102 is the optional module forfuture builds. In this case, the customer has the option to build asecond office-support building module 102 blocks or share the firstoffice-support building module 102 blocks that was built ‘Day 1’. Eachbuilding module type is designed to easily connect to and integrate withanother building module. Modularity is achieved by connecting theconnecting corridors (i.e. service corridor and the personnel corridor)between the adjacent building modules making up the datacenter facility.Each building module type in the set of building modules of differenttypes of functionality is architected and formed as a totally separatedbuilding that is interconnected to another building module via theconnecting corridor that 1) wraps around a data floor containing theservers and storage devices housed in hot and cool zones in a data-floorbuilding module 104 and 2) interconnects to a power center buildingmodule and an office-support building module 102 via the aligned doorsbetween these building modules.

The truly modular building datacenter facility melds all the benefits ofmodularity with the reality of a true, hardened datacenter. Eachbuilding module 102-108 has the components making up that module shippedto the site as a pre-fabricated unit that is assembled on site usingstandard construction techniques. Each building module is composed ofstandardized units and sections for easy construction on site at theparcel of land using the standard construction techniques. The modulardatacenter facility is hardened in its architecture and componentselection in the pre-fabricated components to withstand adverseconditions like high winds, heavy snow, and seismic activity.

The truly modular building datacenter facility allows customers tomanage the growth of their business in well-defined steps without payingfor unused space or capacity. When coupled with the ability of the trulymodular building datacenter facility to fully dedicate or share commonareas at the client's election, the solution provides capabilities andflexibility that no other product offering has.

FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the connectingcorridor in the hardened-structure building module wrapping around adata floor containing the servers and storage devices housed in hot andcool zones in the data-floor building module.

The data-floor building module 204 is the heart of the datacenterenvironment. This set of building modules of different types offunctionality includes the data-floor building module 204 that containsthe computing systems. The data-floor building module 204 supports racksof servers having densities varying in power consumption from 2 kW to 20kW without containment walls between the racks of servers of varyingpower consumption density. The data-floor building module 204 has amultitude of 80′ steel joists horizontally connecting parallel sectionsof wall of the building module to eliminate a need for support columnsbeing located on the 10,000 square feet of raised 36-inch floor thatsupports the computing systems. The joists creating an open floor spaceensures that users of the data-floor building module 204 will have amaximum degree of flexibility to accommodate a variety of potentialserver rack configurations in the hot and cold zones of the data-floorbuilding module 204. The raised 36-inch floor houses the computingsystems as well as creates a dual plenum for air supply with coolingsupply air being supplied underneath the raised floor as well as aceiling plenum for hot air return.

The data-floor building module 204 has segmented walls interlocked withan adjacent wall segment and that are also horizontally connected byjoists to eliminate any need for support columns in the raised 36-inchfloor that supports the computing system. The raised floor exceeds 2500square feet, which is a larger area to store computing equipment uponthan any container in a standard shipping container, and typically canbe 8000 to 12,000 square feet. The wall sections and sections of raisedfloor are prefabricated and shipped to the site.

The data-floor building module 204 raised floor system may be a Tatebolted stringer “Concore” 1500. The raised floor may be basket weavestringer, cement paste to anchor support system with being electricallygrounded and with lighting protection. The floor system load ratings maybe, for example, Concentrated Load—1,500 lbs; Standard Load—1,250 lbs;Uniform Load—375 lbs; and Ramp Load—2,000 lbs. The data room may includea false ceiling twelve feet from raised floor to create a hot air returnplenum.

The data-floor building module 204 containing the computing systems alsohas a cooling system on its roof that features airside economization anddelivers high-efficiency cooling via two or more air chases along thewalls of a data floor room containing to the computing system housedupon a raised data floor. The roof provided is the highest quality,lightweight-insulating concrete with a white PVC membrane fully adheredto support the weight of the air handlers, snow, and other heavyweighted objects.

In an example embodiment, the data-floor building module 204 usespackaged air handlers to control the air temperature and moisture of thedata floor environment. The modular datacenter's mechanicalinfrastructure comprises four 120 Ton Trane Intellipak units withoutside air economization capabilities in a N+1 configuration. Theseroof top units have variable frequency drives that increase theefficiency of the unit in the entire load spectrum. These packaged airhandlers are installed in the roof and they support full outside aireconomization. Additionally, the power-center building module 208 issupported by two (2) 15 Ton Trane packaged air handlers.

A redundancy breakdown by components is outlined in the following table:

Component Redundancy PDU 2N (A + B) UPS 2N (A + B), 5 minute batterysystem per side at full load Mechanical N + 1, normal operating mode isall units at part load Switchgear 2N (A + B) in main-tie-mainconfiguration with dual PLC Generator N with option for N + 1 “swing”generator that can support multiple data-floor building modules UtilityN (spare transformer reserved at utility company)

The data-floor building module 204 has dedicated customer storage spacefor each customer built into that building module. The data floor spaceis free of support columns, and has a dual plenum data hall environment.The data-floor building module 204 structure also supports the N+1mechanical system that features airside economization and delivershigh-efficiency cooling via 2 air chases a long the walls of thedata-floor building module 204, houses the main datacenter raised36-inch floor to store the computing equipment upon.

Next, the set of buildings are connected via the connecting corridorsformed between an interior wall closest to an exterior wall forming ashell of that building module. The connecting corridor has two or moredoors, with one or more doors located at at least both ends of theconnecting corridor and the aligned doors swing open in an oppositedirection to the building module that they are connecting to in order tofacilitate future expansions and interconnections with adjacent andabutted building modules.

Next, the set of building modules includes a hardened-structure buildingmodule 206. The hardened-structure building module 206 is the shellcomponent of the truly modular datacenter. The hardened-structurebuilding module 206 comprises of the building integrity, rooms and thecorridors that act as the connection point with additional buildingmodules. The layout/floor plan of the building modules allows thecorridors around the outer layer of the hardened structure tointerconnect with other building module types. The components for thehardened-structure building module 206 may include the wall sections ofthe hardened shell, an engineer office, a primary Telco room, asprinkler fire riser, a house electrical room, a house mechanical room,a dedicated storage and staging room, and the connecting corridors. (Seealso FIG. 2B)

The hardened shell, formed by wall sections shipped to the site, isplaced to form a footprint of, for example, approximately 270 feet wideby 340 feet deep. The wall sections connect to a foundation. Thefoundation may be, for example, 36-inches concrete piers, to 20 feet atdata-floor building module 204 columns, and 24-inches concrete piers atthe hardened-structure building module's 206 service corridor andsupport corridors, and 24 inches concrete piers at the other buildingmodules. The slab of the building modules may be a 6-inch slab for thedata-floor building module 204, and 4-inch slab at the other buildingmodules 202, 206, 208.

The wall sections of the hardened shell include a steel moment connectedframe structure with columns and beams. The wall sections are connectedwith steel joists. These areas are hardened withstand up to Miami-Dade149 mph.

In an example, each of the wall sections forming the hardened shell ofthe building module have cast-in weld plates for a shelf angle toreceive joists to support a weight of a roof and the walls of thehardened shell and then transfer that weight through framework builtinto the sectioned walls onto the foundation of the building. Each ofthe wall sections forming the hardened shell is at least ten inchesthick, typically twelve inches. Each wall section forming the hardenedshell interconnects with adjacent wall sections, for example, in atongue and grove mechanism. Each wall section forming the shell isprefabricated and shipped to the parcel of land to be installed as partof the hardened-structure building module 206.

The exterior walls at the hardened-structure building module 206 and allof the corridor walls may be, for example, tilt-up panel sections ofwall 19′ tall, 5 to 12 inches thick along the column line, which providefor at least 3-hour fire separation (IBC Firewall). Thehardened-structure building module 206 is shipped in sections thatinclude: an Engineering Office with four hundred squared feet officespace on a 36-inch raised floor; a dedicated Storage Room with twentyfour hundred squared feet shell space on slab; and a room that housesthe fire riser components with Fire Suppression and Detection.

The hardened-structure building module 206 is the hardened shellbuilding of this modular approach. The component selection andarchitectural design of the building is hardened to Miami-Dade Countystandards (150 mph). The roof provided is the highest quality,lightweight-insulating concrete with a white PVC membrane fully adhered.There are no drains in the roof structure as slope with exteriorscuppers and downspouts provide all removal of water.

The customer storage room of the hardened-structure building module 206has ample space for storage and staging prior to moving the equipment tothe data hall. Additionally the connecting corridors for future podshave optional doors at each end to facilitate future expansions. Also,the primary POP room provides generator backed power and cooling fortelecom.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the power-centerbuilding module and the office-support building module having thealigned doors fabricated into the building module in order tointerconnect with the connecting corridor. The set of building modulesof different types of functionality includes a power-center buildingmodule 308. The power-center building module 308 is the heart of thedatacenter power delivery mechanism for the building modules. Thepower-center building module 308 is pre-fabricated off site and itincludes a modular pre-fabricated MEP room that houses the switchgear, aUninterruptable Power Supply, power controls, electrical powergenerators, and transformers, etc. The power-center building module 308also provides the generator-backed power for the POP rooms and the Housepower. The power center building module has a hardened steel shellstructure and one or more aligned doors fabricated into the buildingmodule in order to interconnect with the connecting corridor, whichforms an outer layer of another building module that is adjacent andabutted to the power center building module. The power center buildingmodule 308 includes one to two generators. The generators may be a twoMegawatt diesel generator in an N configuration to provide back-up powerin case of utility power failure, with the second generator as a swinggenerator. Each generator is housed in a weatherproof enclosure. Thecustomer has the option to install or not the additional generator toserve as a swing generator supplying backup electrical power to multipledata-floor building modules 304. (See FIG. 4) The power center buildingmodule 308 includes Power Distribution Units (PDU's). The data-floorbuilding module 304 will have eight PDU's that will serve as theelectrical distribution point for the customer. The PDU's areprefabricated and shipped to the site.

A 2500 kVA outdoor transformer from the Utility Power Grid exists foreach 1000 kW, Truly-Modular Data Center. The 2500 kVA transformer willprovide power for each one of the building modules through dual (A/B)3000 A switchboards controlled by a 5-breaker PLC in the power centerbuilding module. The sequence of electrical power supply operation ofthe system is controlled automatically through deployment of a PLCcontrol unit installed in the 3000 A main switchboard. The optionalswing generator will be a third source of power available to each trulymodular data center. Should the standby generator fail to come onlineafter loss of the utility source, the optional swing generator will pickup the critical loads of the system.

Next, the set of building modules of different types of functionalityincludes an office-support building module 302. The building module ispartitioned into multiple rooms. The exterior doors aligned to thehardened-structure building module 306 are insulated HM in hollow metalframes that swing open. Interior doors for the office-support buildingmodule 302 can be solid core wood doors in frames in office areas. Theprimary Telco Room has access points to the four inch conduits run fromoutside of the facility to the Telco Room and other rooms in thebuilding module and multiple 4 inch conduits run from Telco Room todata-floor building module 304.

The office-support building module 302 that comes in prefabricatedsegments, which include a lobby man-trap area for secured access intothe modular data center facility, a loading dock, and a fishbowlsecurity center that looks over the both the lobby man-trap area and theloading dock (See FIG. 2B). The fishbowl security center also overlooksa portion of a parking lot for the modular data center facilitysimultaneously with the lobby mantrap area and loading dock to reducecosts. Access control badges and entry processing will be performed atthe site by security in the fishbowl security center.

The office-support building module 302 has the aligned doors fabricatedinto the building module in order to interconnect with the connectingcorridor, which forms an outer layer of another building module that isadjacent and abutted to the office-support building module 302. Theoffice-support building module 302 serves as the support center fordatacenter operations. The office-support building module 302 has allthe necessary spaces to run datacenter operations. This module comprisesof the loading dock, lobby, security center, restrooms, secondary POProom, and office space. The security center is designed using a FishbowlSecurity concept to maximize the efficiency of the security officers andprovide loading dock vigilance while still staffing the main securitycenter. The loading dock area consists of a single dock leveler andoverhead door. The loading dock has a canopy for weather and is designedto take a semi-tractor trailer. Additionally, there is a bay for acardboard compactor. The loading dock is designed to take the equipmenton or off the truck as well as de-box. From the loading dock, theequipment can be moved directly into the storage room of thehardened-structure building module 306 or use the hardened-structurebuilding module 306 service corridor to move to the storage of anexpansion hardened-structure building module 306. The office spacecontemplates an open floor plan. Entrance to the office is secure andbadge access only.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a physicalcomposition and geographic arrangement of building modules matched to acurrent capacity and space needs of a user of the modular datacenterfacility as well as to a geography of the parcel of land that themodular data center facility will be located on.

An example one Megawatt datacenter facility with all four buildingmodules is expanded to a two Megawatt facility with the addition ofanother data-floor building module 404, hardened-structure buildingmodule 406, and power-center building module 408. The power-centerbuilding module 408 has one generator and the swing generator of thefirst instance of the power-center building module is electricallycoupled to supply backup power to either set of building modules.

The building connecting methodology via a connecting corridor makesdatacenter expansion simple. Each step of expansion consisting of addinga hardened-structure building module 406, a data-floor building module404, a power center building module 408 and optionally an office-supportbuilding module 402 is built adjacent an existing one with connectionsvia the service corridor and the personnel corridor. Conduits may be rundiversely down the service and personnel corridors for networkconnectivity. A major advantage of this model is you are neverconstructing in the same building footprint as your original datacenter.A one Megawatt modular datacenter facility site can expand to, forexample, a four-megawatt modular datacenter facility by adding threeadditional sets of building modules. The number of sets of buildingmodules making up the modular datacenter depends on the size of theparcel of land (more land=more datacenters).

Both a physical composition and geographic arrangement of a firstconfiguration of building modules in the initial set can be differentthan a second configuration of building modules in the initial set; andthus, the set of building modules can be matched to a current capacityand space needs of a user of the modular datacenter facility as well asto a geography of the parcel of land that the modular data centerfacility will be located on. Each expansion set of building modules isbuilt adjacent an existing one with connections via the service corridorand the personnel corridor.

The aligned doors for the connecting corridors may be walled off/sealedoff to become part of a permanent wall when the interconnection point isdesired removed for security or other purposes. The aligned doors swingin an opposite direction of the building module they are connecting tooin order to allow easier access between the distinctly differentbuilding modules abutted together, which are also then interconnected,via a flange, a link, or other interconnection mechanism, to each otherto form a single modular datacenter facility. Each building typeincludes the interconnection mechanism to optional component additionsof additional building modules. The aligned doors connecting to anotherbuilding module typically also have key card access readers installed tocontrol operation of that doors locking mechanism.

In an embodiment, at least one of 1) electrical fiber conduits and 2)network fiber conduits are run diversely down the connecting corridorsfor network connectivity between adjacent building modules to facilitateinterconnecting two building modules adjacent and abutted to each other.Alternatively, the modular datacenter facility may use the outside plantconduit infrastructure for electrical or network connectivity.

In instances where multiple customers use the data center facility,while the building modules abut each other, neither building module mayhave access to the other building module, as the connecting corridorswould be walled off. However, if it is merely the same client expanding,then the connecting fiber conduits and service corridors makes the twoconstructed building modules one larger extended module.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an expansion ofan initial set of building modules built upon a parcel of land, and thenat a future point in time, additional building modules of the differenttypes are added to the initial set of building modules over time. Theinitial set of building modules 510 built upon a parcel of landcontained one building module of each type. Over time, three additionalsets of building modules 512-516 are added to that parcel of land. Eachset of building modules 512-516 can be connected to form a larger datacenter for a given user of the datacenter as shown in FIG. 4 or beisolated for each set of building modules 512-516 being its owndatacenter facility to used by different user and simply be shared onthe same plot of land. FIG. 5 depicts a four Megawatt conceptual siteplan. In this example, each client has their own office-support buildingmodule and no sharing of any kind exist between the different sets ofbuilding modules. Thus, four distinct one Megawatt datacenter facilities510-516 each with their own office-support building module and powercenter building module.

Each set of building modules 510-516 has its own dedicated mechanicaland electrical systems in this data center facility (i.e. No sharedequipment between different customer's building modules). Thus, incontrast to data centers with shared backplanes for generators andmechanical or that are daisy chained together, as with containers, eachset of building modules that has its own dedicated mechanical andelectrical systems in this data center facility are not subject to the“Christmas light bulb” phenomenon since the failure of one power centeror data hall does not increase the risk of bringing down all the others.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the data-floorbuilding module with partitioned floor space into private suites forportions of the computing systems via erection of non-weight bearingwalls from floor to ceiling to separate each private suite within thesingle data-floor building module.

Another flexible design option included with the data-floor buildingmodule 604 is the ability to compartmentalize the data-floor buildingmodule 604 in dedicated suites for your customers/users. This allows forwalled separation between clients in addition to just cages to creatededicated datacenter suites within the data-floor building module 604.

The data-floor building module 604 is pre-architected with the abilityto easily partition a floor space within a single data-floor buildingmodule 604 into private suites for portions of the computing systems viaerection of non-weight bearing walls from floor to ceiling to separateeach private suite within the single data-floor building module 604.Each private suite is aligned to a wall section forming the shell of thedata-floor building module 604 that is tied to a foundation/hardenedenvironment, where that wall section has a doorway entrance into araised floor space housing the portion of the computing systems in thatprivate suite section.

Thus, with this expansion model, a customer/user never significantlyoverpays for huge amounts of unused shell space or datacenter capacity.The model takes a parcel of land (8-15 acres in size) and buildsmodularly on that land. Ideally, the land is parcel into separate lots,allowing each datacenter building to be on its own parcel. Expansionusing a this connection methodology allows clients to expandincrementally. Unlike other offerings in the marketplace, the methodmatches the building with the datacenter. When a client is ready toexpand on the existing truly modular building datacenter facility, thedesign and engineering of the existing building modules allows for themodel to build additional modular building types and connect them to theexisting facility via the service corridor and the personnel corridor.This results in eliminating construction chaos because the expansion isa totally separate building but then easily connected to and integratedwith that separate building. The only connecting components may be thefiber conduits and the service corridors. Additionally, the modulardatacenter facility has an office support-building module designed tointerconnect with the other building modules. The support spaces (suchas office, loading dock, lobby, etc.) have not been a modular additionuntil now. This means that a customer/user can choose whether or not toshare the office-support building module. If there are two adjacentclients, each can choose to have their own dedicated office-supportbuilding module. While the building abut each other, neither client hasaccess to the other client, as the connecting corridors would be walledoff. However, if it is merely the same client expanding, then theconnecting fiber conduits and service corridors makes the twoconstructed building modules one larger extended module. The client hasthe ability to build modular with not only the datacenterinfrastructure, but the supporting building as well.

The truly modular building datacenter facility is implemented on rawland sites in major metro areas. Once parcel of land is a developed padsite, then one can build the truly modular datacenter facility. Themove-in ready truly modular building datacenter facility provides thelocal market with immediate availability (as they currently may havewith retail colocation providers), but with a wholesale truly modularbuilding datacenter facility offering that allows them complete controland dedicated infrastructure (as opposed to shared). The truly modularbuilding datacenter concepts include at least a wholesale datacenterdesign, architecture, and construction.

The modular power-centers provide all the benefits of the off-sitefabrication while being fully integrated into the building. Thisapproach means that the most complicated and advanced construction takesplace in a factory, while the common trades take place on site.

The truly modular building datacenter facility connects new buildings toexisting building in a way to manage growth effectively. With thereadily accepted assumption that “cost efficiency comes from scale”, thetypical thinking is that you cannot justify a high-cost small buildingsolution. However, the truly modular building datacenter facility designand construction using building modules with the same design andconstruction allows a competitively priced product on small, dedicatedbuilding basis.

Referring to FIG. 4, the truly modular datacenter's modular constructionallows for multiple datacenters to be built contiguous (or not, based oncustomer's preference) by using the connection corridors joined togetherto form a bridge between the two or more modular datacenters.

If there is an existing datacenter facility occupied by a customer and anew customer opportunity exist, then the first step is to determine ifthe new customer accepts sharing the office-support building module 402with another customer. If the new customer does not want to share theoffice-support building module 402, this new set of building moduleswill include one. If the new customer does want to share theoffice-support building module 402, then the existing data-floorbuilding module may be partitioned in dedicated suites or a new set ofbuilding modules will be added that include the data-floor buildingmodule 404, harden-shell building module, and a power-center buildingmodule 408.

The modular data center design style has components of the data centerprefabricated and standardized so that they can be constructed, moved oradded to quickly as needs change.

While some specific embodiments of the invention have been shown, theinvention is not to be limited to these embodiments. The invention is tobe understood as not limited by the specific embodiments describedherein, but only by scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a modular datacenter facility constructedwith a set of building modules of different types of functionality toform an entire datacenter facility having a standardized pre-approvedarchitectural design and layout, where each type of building module inthe set has a specific collection of functionality associated with thattype of building module, where each building module of the differenttypes is a pre-engineered, standardized building block containingarchitectural features to allow easy configuration and integration withthe other building modules that form the modular datacenter facility,where all instances of a particular building module with that type offunctionality will have approximately a same floor plan andarchitectural design, where the modular datacenter facility housescomputing systems, where the computing systems includes servers andstorage devices housed in hot and cool zones, routers and switches thattransport data traffic between the servers as well as transport trafficto a world exterior to the modular data center facility, where aninitial set of building modules can be built upon a parcel of land, andthen as needs of space and additional capacity of the modular datacenterfacility increase, then at a future point in time additional buildingmodules of the different types can be rapidly added to the initial setof building modules; and thus, a data center facility transformationtakes a step-by-step approach carried out over time through an additionof more building modules added to existing building modules, where thebuilding modules of the different types use one or more connectingcorridors architected into at least a first type of building module andcorresponding aligned doorways between both building modules tointerconnect two building modules adjacent and abutted to each other. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, where the set of building modules of differenttypes of functionality includes a hardened-structure building modulethat includes a hardened shell of the building, a dedicated customerstorage and staging space, and connecting corridors in the form of oneor more personnel or service corridors laid out between an interior wallof the hardened-structure building module and an exterior wall formingthe hardened shell of the hardened-structure building module, where eachwall section forming the hardened shell of the building module hasreinforced framework to meet Miami-Dade County standards to withstand upto 150 mph winds and a 1.5 seismic importance factor, where the wallsections forming the hardened shell are connected to a foundation. 3.The apparatus of claim 2, where each of the wall sections forming thehardened shell of the building module have cast-in weld plates for ashelf angle to receive joists to support a weight of a roof and thewalls of the hardened shell and then transfer that weight throughframework built into the sectioned walls onto the foundation of thebuilding, where each of the wall sections forming the hardened shell isat least ten inches thick, where each wall section forming the hardenedshell interconnects with adjacent wall sections in a tongue and grovemechanism, and each wall section forming the shell is prefabricated andshipped to the parcel of land to be installed as part of thehardened-structure building module.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherethe set of buildings are connected via the connecting corridors formedbetween an interior wall closest to an exterior wall forming a shell ofthat building module, where the connecting corridor has two or moredoors, with one or more doors located at at least both ends of theconnecting corridor and the aligned doors swing open in an oppositedirection to the building module that they are connecting to in order tofacilitate future expansions and interconnections with adjacent andabutted building modules.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, where eachbuilding module type in the set of building modules of different typesof functionality is architected and formed as a totally separatedbuilding that is interconnected to another building module via theconnecting corridor that 1) wraps around a data floor containing theservers and storage devices housed in hot and cool zones in a data floorbuilding module and 2) interconnects to a power center building moduleand an office-support building module via the aligned doors betweenthese building modules.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, where the aligneddoors for the connecting corridors may be sealed off to become part of apermanent wall when the interconnection point is desired removed forsecurity or other purposes, and the aligned doors swing in an oppositedirection of the building module they are connecting too in order toallow easier also then interconnected, via a flange, a link, or otherinterconnection mechanism, to each other to form a single modulardatacenter facility.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, where at least oneof 1) electrical fiber conduits and 2) network fiber conduits are rundiversely down the connecting corridors for network connectivity betweenadjacent building modules to facilitate interconnecting two buildingmodules adjacent and abutted to each other.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,where the set of building modules of different types of functionalityincludes a data floor building module containing the computing systems,where the data floor building module supports racks of servers havingdensities varying in power consumption without containment walls betweenthe racks of servers of varying power consumption density, where thedata floor building module has a steel joist horizontally connecting twoparallel sections of wall of the building module to eliminate a need forsupport columns being located on a raised floor that supports thecomputing systems in order to ensure that users of the data floorbuilding module will have a maximum degree of flexibility to accommodatea variety of potential server rack configurations in the hot and coldzones of the data floor building module, where the raised floor housesthe computing systems as well as creates a dual plenum for air supplywith cooling supply air being supplied underneath the raised floor aswell as a ceiling plenum for hot air return.
 9. The apparatus of claim1, where the set of building modules of different types of functionalityincludes a data floor building module containing the computing systems,where the data floor building module is pre-architected with the abilityto easily partition a floor space within a single data floor buildingmodule into private suites for portions of the computing systems viaerection of non-weight bearing walls from floor to ceiling to separateeach private suite within the single data floor building module, andwhere each private suite is aligned to a wall section forming the shellof the data floor building module that is tied to a foundation, wherethat wall section has a doorway entrance into a raised floor spacehousing the portion of the computing systems in that private suitesection.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, where the set of building modulesof different types of functionality includes a data floor buildingmodule containing the computing systems, where the data floor buildingmodule has a cooling system on its roof that features airsideeconomization and delivers high-efficiency cooling via two or more airchases along the walls of a data floor room containing to the computingsystem housed upon a raised data floor.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,where the set of building modules of different types of functionalityincludes a data floor building module containing the computing systems,where the data floor building module has segmented walls interlockedwith an adjacent wall segment and that are also horizontally connectedby joists to eliminate any need for support columns in a raised floorthat supports the computing system, where the raised floor exceeds 2500square feet, which is a larger area to store computing equipment uponthan any container in a standard shipping container.
 12. The apparatusof claim 1, where both a physical composition and geographic arrangementof a first configuration of building modules in the initial set can bedifferent than a second configuration of building modules in the initialset; and thus, the set of building modules can be matched to a currentcapacity and space needs of a user of the modular datacenter facility aswell as to a geography of the parcel of land that the modular datacenter facility will be located on.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherethe set of building modules of different types of functionality includesan office-support building module that comes in prefabricated segments,which include a lobby man-trap area for secured access into the modulardata center facility, a loading dock, and a fishbowl security centerthat looks over the both the lobby man-trap area and the loading dock;where the fishbowl security center also overlooks a portion of a parkinglot for the modular data center facility simultaneously with the lobbyman-trap area and loading dock to reduce costs; and where theoffice-support building module has the aligned doors fabricated into thebuilding module in order to interconnect with the connecting corridor,which forms an outer layer of another building module that is adjacentand abutted to the office-support building module.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 1, where the set of building modules of different types offunctionality includes a power-center building module that ispre-fabricated off site and it includes a designed electrical systemincluding switchgear, a Uninterruptable Power Supply, power controls,electrical power generators, and transformers, where the power centerbuilding module has a hardened steel shell structure, where the powercenter building module has the aligned doors fabricated into thebuilding module in order to interconnect with the connecting corridor,which forms an outer layer of another building module that is adjacentand abutted to the power center building module.
 15. An method forconstructing a modular datacenter facility, comprising: constructing themodular datacenter facility constructed with a set of building modulesof different types of functionality to form an entire datacenterfacility having a standardized pre-approved architectural design andlayout, where each type of building module in the set has a specificcollection of functionality associated with that type of buildingmodule; assembling building module of the different types, where eachbuilding module of the different types is a pre-engineered, standardizedbuilding block containing architectural features to allow easyconfiguration and integration with the other building modules that formthe modular datacenter facility, where all instances of a particularbuilding module with that type of functionality will have approximatelya same floor plan and architectural design; and housing computingsystems in the modular datacenter facility, where the computing systemsincludes servers and storage devices housed in hot and cool zones,routers and switches that transport data traffic between the servers aswell as transport traffic to a world exterior to the modular data centerfacility, where an initial set of building modules can be built upon aparcel of land, and then as needs of space and additional capacity ofthe modular datacenter facility increase, then at a future point in timeadditional building modules of the different types can be rapidly addedto the initial set of building modules; and thus, a data center facilitytransformation takes a step-by-step approach carried out over timethrough an addition of more building modules added to existing buildingmodules, where the building modules of the different types use one ormore connecting corridors architected into at least a first type ofbuilding module and corresponding aligned doorways between both buildingmodules to interconnect two building modules adjacent and abutted toeach other, where components making up each of the building modules areprefabricated and shipped to the parcel of land.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15, further comprising: including in the set of building modulesof different types of functionality a hardened-structure building modulethat has a hardened shell of the building, a dedicated customer storageand staging space, and connecting corridors in the form of one or morepersonnel or service corridors laid out between an interior wall of thehardened-structure building module and an exterior wall forming thehardened shell of the hardened-structure building module, where eachwall section forming the hardened shell of the building module hasreinforced framework to meet Miami-Dade County standards to withstand upto 150 mph winds and a 1.5 seismic importance factor, where the wallsections forming the hardened shell are connected to a foundation. 17.The apparatus of claim 16, where each building module type in the set ofbuilding modules of different types of functionality is architected andformed as a totally separated building that is interconnected to anotherbuilding module via the connecting corridor that 1) wraps around a datafloor containing the servers and storage devices housed in hot and coolzones in a data floor building module and 2) interconnects to a powercenter building module and an office-support building module via thealigned doors between these building modules.
 18. The apparatus of claim17, where the data floor building module contains the computing systems,where the data floor building module supports racks of servers havingdensities varying in power consumption without containment walls betweenthe racks of servers of varying power consumption density, where thedata floor building module has a steel joist horizontally connecting twoparallel sections of wall of the building module to eliminate a need forsupport columns being located on a raised floor that supports thecomputing systems in order to ensure that users of the data floorbuilding module will have a maximum degree of flexibility to accommodatea variety of potential server rack configurations in the hot and coldzones of the data floor building module, where the raised floor housesthe computing systems as well as creates a dual plenum for air supplywith cooling supply air being supplied underneath the raised floor aswell as a ceiling plenum for hot air return.
 19. The apparatus of claim15, where the set of buildings are connected via the connectingcorridors formed between an interior wall closest to an exterior wallforming a shell of that building module, where the connecting corridorhas two or more doors, with one or more doors located at at least bothends of the connecting corridor and the aligned doors swing open in anopposite direction to the building module that they are connecting to inorder to facilitate future expansions and interconnections with adjacentand abutted building modules.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, where botha physical composition and geographic arrangement of a firstconfiguration of building modules in the initial set can be differentthan a second configuration of building modules in the initial set; andthus, the set of building modules can be matched to a current capacityand space needs of a user of the modular datacenter facility as well asto a geography of the parcel of land that the modular data centerfacility will be located on.